Steve Furness

Steve Furness (December 5, 1950 – February 9, 2000) was a defensive tackle who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions in the NFL. A Rhode Island native, he attended Bishop Hendricken High School and the University of Rhode Island, where he also excelled at the hammer throw, turning down an invitation to the 1972 Olympic Trials to attend Pittsburgh's training camp. Selected in the fifth round of the 1972 NFL Draft, he initially backed up Joe Greene and Ernie Holmes before taking over as starter in 1977. He earned four Super Bowl rings with the Steelers, started in Super Bowl XIII, and recorded 32 sacks over his Pittsburgh career.